Skelton man left devastated after his wife told to return to Thailand

Nick Pelling and wife Somboon Phungamdao, known as Toy, either face being forced to live apart or him having to leave his life in Skelton behind.A heartbroken husband says his mum potentially faces the loss of another child after he was told his wife was being deported back to Thailand. Nick Pelling and his wife Somboon Phungamdao, known as Toy, either face being forced to live thousands of miles apart or him having to leave his life in Skelton behind. It is the latest blow to the Pelling family, who just two months ago had to deal with the tragic loss of Nick’s brother Mark. The 53-year-old died in Thailand in May in a motorbike accident.

“My mum has lost her son in Thailand in May and now she is worried about losing another,” said Nick, 49. Toy is being deported by the Home Office after her six-month visitor visa ran out and was refused permission to remain in the UK. “I feel like we are being bullied,” said Nick, an oil rig worker who had previously emigrated to New Zealand. “We have been told this decision is final – we are not allowed to appeal.” Nick met Toy, 50, while visiting his brother in February 2012. “We got on like a house on fire,” he said.

The pair would then communicate over the internet or on the phone in between visits. She was then granted a visa to live with Nick in New Zealand. But after four-and-a-half years in the country, Nick decided he wanted to return home to Teesside. Toy was then granted a six-month visitor visa with Nick, who got a job and bought a home and car. The pair then married in February this year.

But they say a mistake by their immigration advisor meant an application for her to stay on was cancelled. A second application was then submitted. However, the couple were told the devastating news yesterday that Toy is not allowed to stay. “They said Toy can’t speak English well enough and that I don’t earn enough money – both of which are not true. “Toy goes to English classes once a week in Redcar and I have a good job on the rigs. “We now have up to July 28 to tell then of the flight details for Toy to go back where she has nowhere to live.”

“I have family, a job, a house, a car and a dog here but they don’t seem to care about that,” added Nick, who says his mum Anne is heartbroken at the prospect. “In the decision notice it states there is no reason why I cannot go to live in Thailand. “That is not where I want to be. This is my home. I am a British Citizen. “But Toy is my wife. I will stand by here through thick and thin. We want to be together.

“I just want to live as man and wife in our house as couples do. We don’t want anything special. “I just can’t understand it. Why are they making our lives a misery?” A Home Office spokesperson said: “Ms Phungamdao entered the UK on a six month visitor visa which expired in March this year. “It is not possible for a visitor to switch to a spousal visa, but it remains open to Ms Phungamdao to submit a fresh application as a spouse after leaving the UK.”